Evening Star Newspaper, July 20, 1931, Page 17

SLAYER OF BROE PLEADS EULTY TO CHARCEOF MURDER Doniald W. Sagle Waives Jury Trial—Court Reserves His Decision. FATHER DECLARES SON NOT MENTALLY NORMAL Witnesses Say He Shot Wife and Self When She Refused to Return to Him. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. RICHMOND, Va., July 20.—Donald ‘W. Sagle, 23 years old, of Washingto: pleaded guilty here today to a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the killing here May 3 of his bride of a few months, Agnes Jenkins Sagle. After hearing evidence in the case, Judge John L. Ingram reserved his de- cision until July 23. Sagle, who walived Jury trial, did not testify. ‘The only witness for the defense was his father, John W. Sagle, a carpenter, of 813 Fifth street, Washington, who told the court his son was not alto- gether normal. He added that there had been several cases of insanity in the family. Poison Case Cited. Mrs. John Sagle, mother of the de- fendant, spent some time in the home of an insane relative before the birth of her boy, the elder Sagle said. He de- clared he believed this may have in- fluenced his mind. Sagle also told the court his son's ‘wife took polson in Washington seven weeks after their marriage there on December 20. This happened, he said, after she was accused of “running around with other men.” She was treated at Emergency Hospital, remain- ing there for several days, Sagle said. Several relatives of Mrs. Sagle told of the circumstances of the shooting here. Sagle came from Washington the afternoon of May 3, and, accord- ing to these witnesses, shot his wife Wwhen she refused to return to live with him. She had come to Richmond a few days previously. Turned Gun on Self. After shoting her through the head, Bagle also shot himself with the same pistol, the bullet piercing his liver. He tecovered from the wound a month ago and has since been in jail await- ing trial. Before the tragedy, Sagle wrote a note to the press asking that he be “given some real publicity.” He also wrote a note to his father in Washington, the contents of which were not made known. He was represented in court today by Leith S. Bremner, Richmond attorney, appointed by the court. Brem- ner submiited the case to the judge without argument after the testimony ‘was given. According to the boy's fa- ther, he served three years in the Army enlisting at the age of 16. So far as he knew, the boy had a good record in the service, being stationed for the most part at Panama. Since leaving the Army he had worked with his father, helping him at his carpentry work. | DROWNED BOY’S BODY IS SOUGHT IN CANAL Bix-Year-0ld Washington Child Dies While Wading at Ches- apeake Beach. | Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. July 20.—Efforts of police and citizens to recover the body of 6-year-old Thomas | Glascock, jr., 210 East Capitol street, Washington, from the waters of the old canal here had been unsuccessful at a late hour today. The child drowned yesterday. ‘Thomas, with his mother, a 2-year- old sister and Mr. and Mrs, Oliver C. Harwell and their son, Claude, 9- years old, all of the same address, had come here for a day’s outing. Thomas and Claude had been wading in the shallow watér at the mouth of the old al when a motor boat passed and they grabbed the side. The boat had not proceeded far, Claude told authorities, when Thomas lost his hold and disappeared beneath the water. The motor boat proceeded upon its way, the occupants unaware of the tragedy. Claude summoned as- sistance. . Harwell and numerous volunteers dived until dark in an effort to locate the body. Last night Mayor Sidney J. Monk and Chief of Police Lambdin took charge of the search. Lights were strung to the scene by engineers of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Co. and members of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department joined in the search, which continued throughout the night. ‘When dragging had failed, a futile at- tempt was made to use a net. HOOVER TO ADDRESS “Y” ‘Will Speak to National Conference by Radio August 8. President Hoover today accepted an invitation to make a radio address to the meeting of the World's Conference ! of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion in Cleveland August 8. The President’s address will be de- livered from the cabinet room of the White House. The invitation was extended per sonally today by John R. Mott of New York, president of the World's Alliance of the Y. M. C. A. SISTERS WED TOGETHER Bpecial Dispatch to The Sta: LYNCHBURG, Va. July 20.—Mrs. Betty Lacy Roberts of Halifax County has announced the double wedding of her daughters, Miss Lucile Roberts, to J. Craddock Chaffin of South Boston, and Miss Grace Roberts, to Franklin ‘Wright Pomeroy of Washington, - the double ceremony having been performed at her home July 11 by Rev. F. E. Riley, pastor of the South Boston Baptist Church. Oxon Hill Firemen Elect. The following officers were elected at the July meeting of the Oxon Hill Vol- unteer Fire Company: President, Wil- llam F. Taylor; first vice president, J. T. Lingrell; second vice president, Mrs, Charles Grimes; secretary, Mrs. V. E. Janes; treasurer, Millard Dennison; chief, Marcellus Buckler; captain, El- wood Phelps; first lieutenant, J. T. Lingrell; second lieutenant, T. M. Sher- Aff; sergeant, John Sheriff, and forest ‘warden, Clarence P! | Pennsylvania avenue, and resting his REV. H. J. COUNCILOR DIES AFTER APPENDICITIS ATTACK Calvary Baptist Minister, 44, Resident Since 1909. Native of Michigan Achieved Distinction as Pulpit Orator. Rev. Homer J. Councilor, assistant pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, died early today at Sibley Hospital after an | emergency operation for appendicitis. He had been seriously ill since lasi Wednesday. Rev. Mr. Councilor, who was 44 years old, had lived in Washington since 1909. He was born in Marlette, Mich, #nd lived there until 1904, when he moved to Towa. Later he resided in Oklahoma, where he married Miss Elsle Blake in| 1907. ‘When he came here, two years later, | Mr. Councilor became secretary to Rep- resentative Mondell of Wyoming. was affiliated afterward with the Army Medical Museum as assistant librarian, | leaving tHat position seven years ago to enter the ministry. Place Occypled Since 1924, ‘He became assistant pastor of the Cavalry Baptist Church in 1924 at the | invitation of Rev. Willlam S. Aber- nethy, pastor, and in 1926 was ordained a minister by a special council. Al- though he had never ‘pursued ecclesi- astical studles at any school, his work was outstanding in that fleld and he was a gifted orator. Rev. Mr. Councilor had been inter- | ested In Y. M. C. A. work before he| entered the ministry and for some time | served as dean of the School of Relig- jous Education at the local association. He was the author of a book, “The Junior Church,” and had written a number of short stories for magazines. | He enjoyed a wide reputation here as a public speaker. | He | The WASHLI. TON, D. C., = | In June, 1930, while making a com- | mencement address at _one of the Junior high schools here, Rev. Councilor collapsed. He never fully regained his | strength, although he continued to be | active in his work. Prayer for Recovery. ‘When the minister's serious illness ; became known yesterday through an | announcement made by Rev. John C. | Palmer, pastor of the Washington Heights Presbyterian Church, at & Royal Arch day service of Masons in Temple Heights, a special prayer was | offered for his recovery. Surviving are Lis widow, one son, | Harry A, and two brothers, ®heron G., | Pittsburgh, and James A. Councilor, this city. Harry Councilor, who is en- gaged in Summer work at a camp in Old Mystic, Conn., came here by air- plane yesterday to be with his father. Funeral services will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church tomorrow at 12 o'clock. with Dr. Abernethy officiat- ing. Burial will be in Glenwood Ceme- tery. BYEAROLD MAN ENDS LIFE IN PARK Body, Identified as That of Martin Miller, Unemployed, Sent to Morgue. | | An 80-year-old laborer, who tramped | all the way from Michigan in an un- successful search for work, last night | built himself a death bed of news- papers, spread beneath the towering statue of Gen. Winfleld Scott Han- | X.ray specialist, of North Chevy Chase, | {Md., in connection with the death of | cock in a park at Seventh street and head on the meager bundle that ConAi tained his earthly possessions, swal- lowed poison. A bottle lay near an ouulr‘!(-ched hand calloused with years | of toil. Later identified by police as Martin Miller, the man had registered at the Gospel Mission, 214 John Marshall | place, last Thursday. He stayed there also Friday and Saturday nights. No one knew much abcut him; he did not have anything to say unless spoken to. Habitues of the park where he died had seen him around, but their ac- quaintance with him was slight. He told one of them that he had been a farmer back in Michigan and that he had sought long and earnestly for work. They said he was a heavily built man, though stooped with sge, and | must have been well over 6 tal in his prime. The body was discovered shortly after 1 o'clock this morning by John Harris of Greenvills, N. C. The right hand was bound with bandage and there was a patch over the left eye. Dr. C. E.| McNamara of Emergency Hospital, whol was summoned to the park, recognized the man as one he had treated early yesterday at the hospital for injuries from a down an embankment near Alexandri: ridge. He had gone over there In ch of a job. Other than a praver book, which aided in identitying Wim, and a small pin belrl? the emblem of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and what he wore, the only belongings the man had were an extra pair of trousers, a shirt, a razor, a shaving brush, comb and pipe. The body was taken to the District Morgue for a coroner’s inquest. MONTGOMERY CHURCHES PLAN ANNUAL PICNIC Fete Will Be Held at Gaithersburg Wednesday and Thursday. Leaders Named. Bpecial Dispatch to The Btar. GAITHERSBURG, Md, July 18— The first joint picnic of St. Martin's Catholic Church, Gaithersburg, and St. Rose's Church, Cloppers, which is ex- pected to be an annual event, will be held on the grounds of St. Martin's School, Gaithersburg, Wedesnday and Thursday evenings. Mrs. Arthur Hogan is chairman of the General Committee of Arrange- ments, Mrs. Edward P. Schwartz and Miss Rose Hutton compose the Re- ception Committee, and Mrs. Robert L. Hickerson, Mrs. Willlam A. Waters, Mrs. Paul Ramsdell, Mrs. Worthington Grifith, Mrs. C. Algie Fulks and Mrs. Royer the hostesses. Miss Marie Stang will be in charge of the gift booth, Elmer Walters, pop; Mrs. Herbert L. Diamond and Mrs. Bernard Diamond, cake and ice cream; Miss Eulalle Boland, fish pond; Mrs. Hogan, the supper table, and Kenneth Meem and Willlam L. Caulfield the paddle wheel. i ‘The members of the Sanctuary So- cleties of the two churches and other "l‘setmbem of the congregations will as- sist. BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED FOR PINEY BRANCH ROAD By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. Md., July 20.— Bids for the grading and drainage work on approximately one mile of street to connect Piney Branch road with Sligo avenue will be received at the office of Lacy Shaw, commissioner for the east- ern suburban district, at the County Building here Wednesday. ‘The road to be improved and con- structed begins at Fern and Chestnut streets and continues out Chestnut street to Saratoga avenue and over that avenue to Sligo nue. will give an arterial highway from Georgia ave- nue over Piney Branch rcad to Sligo avenue and on to Avenell, White Oak, Laurel and Baltimore: the ‘Approved program 1ot fplehway do- a) program way de- velopment this year, g education {reside MERRITT CLEARED INFATALACGDENT Rockville Hearing Reveals Everything Done to Avoid Striking Mrs. Powers. Special Dispatch to The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., July 20.—A charge of manslaughter against John W. Merritt, 24, son of Dr. Edwin A. Merritt, Mrs. Charlotte Powers of 14 Hesketh street, Chevy Chase, who was struck by | Merritt's car at Chevy Chase Circle s dismissed by Judge Charles dward in Police Court here testimony of a number of wit- nesses was to the effect that the ac- cident, which occurred a short distance north of the circle about 11 o'clock at night, was unavoidable so far as the defendant was concerned. According to the evidence, Mrs. Powers rushed from a triangle near the circle toward the west side of Connecticut avenue and immediately in front of Mr. Merritt's car, which was headed south and going at & moderate rate of speed. The witness agreed that Merritt brought his car to & prompt stop and did everything in his power to avoid striking the woman. Mrs. Powers, ac- cording to the testimony, was taken to Georgetown University =~ Hospital by Merritt. Merritt was first charged with reck- less driving, but on the death of Mrs. Powers last week the more serious charge was preferred. The reckless- driving charge also was dismisse Upon_the conclusion of the testimony for the State today, State’s Attorney Stedman Prescott sald that there was not sufficlent evidence to hold the de- fendant. In dismissing the case Judge Woodward remarked that it was an unfortunate occurance, but that young Merritt had apparently done everything in his power to avold the accident. WOMAN DEMANDS MILLION OF DEAN Margaretta Meeker Claims Wealthy Realtor Attempted Criminal Assault. Margaretta Meeker, 1320 Twenty-first |street, has filed syit in District Su- preme Court asking $1,000,000 damages from Edward B. Dean, sr., millionaire real estate owner, 1669 Columbia road, for alleged attempted criminal assault. ‘Through Attorneys J. William Tom- linson and W. Roy Ives, the plaintiff charged that Dean, on July 3, “struck, beat, wounded and ill-treated her” in the alleged assault attempt. She said she suffered a severe nervous shock and was gredtly embarrassed by the al- leged actions of the defendant. ‘The plaintifi sald she had to leave her home as the result of the alleged attack because she was in fear of the defendant. Dean, on June 9, was sued for $500,- 000 damages by Mrs. Edyna C. B. Lloyd and her husband, Robert Lloyd, who charged him with an assault on Mrs. Lloyd. 4 AUTO ACCIDENT COSTS MRS. EFFIE FORD ARM Amputation Halt Infection Leaves Patient at Sibley Hos- pital in “Fair” Condition. Injuries received in an automobile accident Friday by Mrs. Effie Ford, wife of Rev. E. L. Ford, of Foundry Methodist Church, last night necessi- tated the amputation of her right arm to halt infection which had set in. The operation was performed at Sibley Hospital by Dr. Daniel Rorden. Her condition was described this morn- ing as “fair.” A skid on wet paving caused the car driven by Dr. Ford, and occupied also by some friends, partially to overturn near Frederick injuring Mrs Ford. She was brought here for treatment, and her condition took a turn for the worse, Saturday night. Rev. Mr. Ford is director of religious urch. They $11 Cothedral m } avenus, to CHILD'S MINIMUM COST AT AGE OF 15 FIGURED AT $443 White House Conference Re- ports Expenses in First Year Are $265. BURDEN TAKES JUMP AT ABOUT TENTH YEAR Parents Urged to Give Regular Allowance as Training in Use of Money. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. A 15-year-old boy or girl represents & minimum cost of from $4,543 | 86,277, The figures are reached by the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection by averaging various| minimum estimates of relief organiza- tions and social studies, taking into consideration the cost of food, clothing and the child's share of rent, heat, light and miscellaneous expenses of the family. Then 20 per cent is added to the whole account for those expenses peculiar to childhood. The older the child, the tables show, the greater the expense. The estimate ranges from $265 to $308 for the first year to $316 to $493 for the fifteenth |year. The big jump, it is shown, cames | at about the tenth year. For the lowest set of figures there is an abrupt rise |of about $26 a year at th Early Increase Slow. ‘There has been an increase of only $11 from birth up to this time. For the higher table the increase for the tenth year is $24. During the first 10 years | there has been an increase of $80. But both tables show that for every year there is an increase. The child re- more/ room. ‘The most notable increases are in | the food anc clothing budget. During the 15 years for both groups these costs approximately doubled. The lower table allows $92 for things to eat and wear during th*" first year and $143 in the fifteenth year. The higher table starts with $108 and runs up steadily to $293. These figures, it is explained, are the minimum additions to the family bud- get necessitated by the presence of every additional child. The report emphasizes that both esti- mates are absolute minimums at which investigators have estimated that a child can be reared decently. They do not approach, it is believed, the actual expenditures on a child of the average American family in far circumstances. The need of a study of actual expen tures — not estignates for rellef —is stressed in this study just published by the Home Management Committee of the White House Conference. Training in Money Use, ‘The repor: also includes a study un- dertaken by Dr. Benjamin Andrews of Columbia University on the child's training in the use of money, based on the experience of 634 children from ail sorts of families in tie schools of Rochester, N. Y., an inductrial city, and | Brookline, Mass, & residential com- munity. The Investigators found that 39 per | cent of the pupils examined in Roches- | ter were given allowances by their par- | ents and 71 per cent of the puptls in | Brcokline. The rest got money only by | specific requests. In both cities parents appear to have been more indulgent to girls, possibly because there is less op- portunity for them to earn money of their own. The children were asked how much money they needed to spend. The re- plies ranged from 50 cents a week for | the sixth grade boys in Rochester to $5 a week for the eighth grade girls in Brookline. The desired allowance in- | creased with age. In Rochester the | from $1 a week in the sixth grade to | $3'in the tenth grade. The tenth grade | boys asked for $2. The children told what they would do with the money they wanted. “If you had $1 a week to do with exactly as you pleased, what would you do with 2" they were asked. The younger ®hildren—especially in Brookline—tended to oversave and overgive, while with increasing age the three functions of saving, spending and glving tended to balance one another about as adult judgment would approve.. Thus, in a fifth grade, 50 per cent saving was the medium suggested by the girls and 45 per cent by the boys. |In the eighth grade of the same build- ing this decreased to 16 per cent for the girls and 10 per cent for the boys. Children should be given allowances in accordance with the ability of their parents rather than be forced to ask for specific sums to meet specific needs, the report emphasizes. “The child as a developing per- sonality,” says the report of this study, “needs financial freedom with friendly guidance from elders. The child by | his allowance is given an opportunity to learn through experience, but sn allowance does not work automatically. Urges BroadsStudy. “With parents interested to keep in personal contact with their child’s financial problems, he will find his way while yet a child into experi- ences in earning, spending, saving and giving money t will equip him for sl‘:lccless(ul financial experience as an adult.” The report urges & far-reaching study on the money cost of an ade- quate standard of living, to be accom- panied by definite physical and mental measurements, to be undertaken in the near future. SbCIETY MEETS St. Vincent De Paul Charity Work Is Reported. Reports on charitable wark were read at the quarterly meeting of the St. Vincent de Pn:'msmlety in the new church auditoris on fifteenth street, between R and S, yesterdx morning. Following a breakfast, the regular business session, with George Cleary, president of the particular council, pre- siding, was held. o BANK DIRECTOR NAMED Special Dispatch to The ;hr. R WINCHESTER, Va. ly .—T. Russel Cather, Frederick County States attorney and Democratic candidate for the Virginia State Senate this year, was unanimously elected s member of the board of directors of Shenandoah Na- tional Bank to fill the place of the late willlam S. Hiett, prominent Northern Virginia apple grower. Mr. Cather has been commonwealth attorney for Fred- erick County for the past 16 years. At almest the same time, a number of . Shenandoah Valley National Bank shares were offered here at public auction, bringing around $325, or the MONDAY, quires more food, more clothes and! {amount desired by the girls increased | Form 5300—Teb, 4w Apricant must Sl Diuals 08 back regmviliy places of reskbentts bad must dive stber Foening Shae WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION JULY 20, '1931. ’ D13 P recal— . U. 8. CiviL SERVICE COMMISSION FINGERPRINTS of the four finge: Plain impression . gers takea Information requesied | & PAGE B—1 Right Hand ASKS D. . POLICE AID SUICIDE PROBE Family Friend Requests In- quiry of Rumors Sweet- heart Met Foul Play. Special Dispatch to The Star. FAIRFAX. Va. P. Kirby today wrote to Washington detective headquarters asking assistance in running down rumors that have arisen in connection with the sulcide last Tuesday night of Joseph Palazzo of Washington, who shot himself on the Richmond Highway near Hybla Valley Flying Field. lazzo's Lottie Olinsworth of Washington, to whom he was to have been married in a few days, has not been seen since the tragedy, and rumors of foul play have arisen. Palazzo left in his car a note to his family, which was declared authentic by his sister, both as to the facts and the handwriting. County Coroner C. A. Ransom based his certificate of death from a self-inflicted gunshot on her assertion. Alfred Maggio of Washington, a friend of the Palazzo family, yesterdav came to Fairfax to ssk Kirby's assistance in locating the missing girl. Maggio told Hirpy that he had been to Washington police for help, but that inasmuch as the suicide had occurred in Fairfax County, Washington dete tives stated they could not interfere u: less requested to do so by Virginia au- thoritles. At the inquest Wednesday Palazzo’s sister told the coroner she was anxious to talk with her brother's sweeth: . as she felt she could probably explain her brother's act. She said she had seen her brother at 4 o'clock the after- noon before his death, and that he looked very agitated. He refused to tell her what was troubling him. Normaily, she stated, her brother was of a very happy disposition. Palazzo’s family feels that if the girl is still alive she may be able to shed some light on the reason for the sui- cide. It has also been suggested that the girl herself may have met with foul play, and that Palazzo may have killed himself bcause of some knowledge con- cerning her. . 400 IN PRINCE WILLIAM ATTEND DUMFRIES FETE Rebekah Lodge Entertainment Draws Many County “Candidates, ‘Who Make Speeches. Special Dispatch to The Star. DUMFRIES, Va, July 20.—More than 400 visitors from Prince Willlam County attended the law fete and en- tertainment given Saturday night under auspices of Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F. Many of the county candidates for office, subject to the primary August 4, availed themselves of the opportunity to meet the large group of voters and several of them responded to an in- vitation to address the gathering in the evening. Some of those who spoke were Thomas H. Lion, commonwealth at- torney; J. W. Merchant and E. G. W. Keys, candidate for the office of super- visor from the Dumfries district; Georgc W. Herring and Arthur 8. Boatwright, candidates for the House of Delegates: Robert M. Weir and T. M. Russel running for commissioner of revenuc, and Sheriff John P, Kerlin, candidate to succeed himself, and Wallace E. Partlow, present deputy, who seeks to wrest the job from Kerlin, Members of the lodge on the com- mittee in charge of the entertainment were: Mrs. Annie G. Cline, Mrs. W. W. Sisson, Mrs. Janie Abel, Mrs, Eastman Keys and Mrs. Elvan Keys. 'CARNIVAL IS.< PROLONGED St. Gabriel’'s Fete Begun July 6, Ends Tomorrow Night. Because of last week’s rainy weather, the carnival being held by St. Gabriel Catholic Church will be continued until tomorrow night, it was announced to- d: ‘The carnival, which began July 6, to have closed Saturday night. From 8 to 10 o'clock tonight the Washington Independent Boys' Band will present a concert. At 10:30 o'clock the ‘“Pirates’ Chest”—a small cedar chest containing gold coins—will * be awarded the person holding the lucky ticket. The tickets will be distributed | | P e Tor that stock, e aipremiams . July 20.—Sheriff E. | sweetheart, | 4 the home of Rear Admiral Charles J. |Small Boy Howls As Officer Saves | Him From Water| | | | | Jimmy O’Steene, Age 4, Shows Dislike for Policemen. Jimmy O'Steene, 4. doesn't like po- | | licemen, police stations or anything that has to do with police. He made | this known in no uncertain terms last night. Jimmy had been just “rescued” when | he showed his distaste. He didn't think | | he had needed “rescuing” and that was | |the cause of his leather-lunged out- break at the eleventh precinct station. ‘The lad had gone to Anacostia Park, near his home at 1326 Ridge Place, | southeast, and had started playing in water near the sea wall when Joseph Matt s, 303 Eleventh street south. | east, cme by and saw him. Mr. Mat- thews didn't think it was safe for one 50 young to vlay in the water and ef- fected the ‘rescue.” Jimmy, ~whose father, Willlam O'Steene, is chief radio electrician of the United States Coast Guard, dis- agreed with his ‘“rescuer.” | At the eleventh precinct station, where he was taken, he could only tell police, between howls, that his name was Jimmy, and that he didn't know where he lived. Noting Jimmy's aversion to the police station Mr. Matthews took the boy to | his home, where Jimmy got acquainted with Mr. Matthews' son, Vincent, 6. The boys played together until Mr. O'Steene asked eleventh precinct police about his son, and was promptly told where he wa Jimmy and Vincent made plans to play together again. BEATING OF WIFE. PROBED BY POLICE |Husband of Servant to Ad- miral Badger Held for Questioning. Police today were investigating an attack made yesterday o- last night on Mrs. Catherine Porter, 36, who was found last night, by her husband, Ed- | ward S. Porter, 35, lying unconscious in the lower hallway of 3508 Lowell street, Badger, where they are caretakers in the absence of the admiral’s family. Porter is being held by police of the fourteenth precinct for questioning. Mrs. Porter was taken to Emergency Hospital, suffering from a scalp wound, two black eyes and other injuries, last night. Her condition this morning was said to be somewhat improved, but she still is semi-conscious. Porter said that he and his wife had been treating one another “coolly” for several days, (alluw“:z an argument one day last week. Porter told Detective H. E. Brodie last night that he had gotten up early yes- terday morning and left the house while his wife, in another room, was still asleep. He sald he came down town and ate breakfast, then went to his mother’s home, where he spend the day. He sald he returned at about 11:20 o'clock last riight to find his wife lying unconscious at the foot of the steps in the house. A window and door in the rear of the ‘house, which were usually locked, were open when he Yeturned, Porter told police. A broken wrist watch on Mrs. Porter's arm had stopped at 11:07 o'clock. DISABLED AVIATOR VICTIM OF THUGS Found Drugged and Robbed. Police Seek Two Whom He Gave Ride. Headquarters detectives today were seeking two men who yesterday robbed Antonio F. Duarte, 31, aviator, of $85 after knocking him un- conscious by a blow on the head while he was giving them a ride in his auto- mobile. Duarte was found unconscious in his utomobile at Twelfth street and Con- stitution avenue by Park Policeman H. Compton at about 4:30 o'clock yester- day afternoon. He was treated Emergency Hospital for his injuries and later returned to his rooms in a hotel. He will go to Walter Reed Hospital Y. Detective Sergt. H. K. Wilson of head- quarters sald physicians at Emergency found a poison in the man’s stomach ;::]\flll’ to that used in denatured alco- Folice believe the two men gave Duarte the drink and then struck him over the head. Suspects Reported Seen. Detective Sergt. Wilson said today he had found two witnesses who saw the men in the automobile with the disabled aviator, thus confirming Duarte's story that he had two men riding with him. Duarte told police he was accosted by two men as he drove down Four- teenth street about 3:30 yesterday after- noon. They climbed in his machine as he stop) for a red light, he said, and asked him to give them a lift down- town. Shortly afterward one of the men offered him a drink, according to police, and Duarte took one. After driving a short distance further he remembered nothing until he was found by the park policeman. Here for Treatment. Duarte, who lives at Jacksonville, Fla., was in this city for treatment at Walter Reed Hospif for injuries sustained some years ago when an airplane in :‘hnl:h he was flying was struck by light- ¢+ Since then he has undergone 42 skin- grafting operations for burns and was scheduled for another today. In 1927 Duarte is said to have been robbed of $72 after being beaten up by a man who was accompanied by a woman. JOB SLOGAN PRIZE WON BY H. C. MARTIN L “Employ for Prosperity” Awarded $20 by Committee on Cam- paign. “Employ for Prosperity” was the prize-winning slogan announced today in the contest staged in connection with the Midsummer job campaign of the Districi Employment Committee. According to George J. Adams, jr., secretary of the committee, the slogan was submitted by H. C. Martin, who failed to put his address on his com- munication. If, however, Mr. Martin will call at the committee offices, room 24, District. Building, his prize, a $20 gold m , will be given to him. It does not appear by the end of the week, the money will be turned over to the “faith fund,” which is loanea, without interest or security, to persons in destitute circumstances. Problem at N ‘The time when traffic fights will let up in their hindrance of motorists seemed a little nearer today when Act- ing Engineer Commissioner Donald A. Davison said he would suggest to Wil- liam A. Van Duzer, director of the department of vehicles and traffic, that t of the lights be turned out ex- t from 8 to 10 o'clock in the morn- . and 4 9 6 e'clock in TRAFFIC LIGHTS SHOULD GO, VAN DUZER TOLD BY DAVISON Director Gets Engineer’s Plea and Decides to Study Early Date. made before, but never by any one with s0_much influence in local affairs. Mr. Van Duzer, queried on the sub- that at the moment his force ting lanes painted in preparation for the change in the left- turn rule which will go into effect next September. However, he said that when that work lets up, he will study the traffic light situation with other U.S. JOB APPLIGANTS “WITH PAST" TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE Those With Prison Records to Be Accepted Only if They Have Reformed. CIVIL SERVICE TO ACT AS JUDGE OF FITNESS Realizes Blacklist by Government ‘Would Close All Avenues to Legitimate Employment. BY REX COLLIER. Under its new policy of fingerprint- ing all appointees to the Government service, the Civil Service Commission has set itself up as a judge of the morals of Federal employes. The fingerprint system—extended to include every class of civil service appointee with the beginning of the fiscal year July 1—already has cxposed & considerable Bumber of “persons with a past,” but not all of these will be barres. “If circumstances warrant, give the applicant another chance to make This, in substance, is to be the policy of the commission in passing on the criminal records of those who seek to_enter Federal employment. The Civil Service Commission realizes that automatic disbarment would be a grave injustice to a person who is striv- ing to atone for a previous wrong. The stigma of a permanent blacklisting by the Government would be an almost unsurmountable barrier to honest work in any fleld of endeavor. Private em- ploye would be likely to follow the Government's lead. With the doors to all avenues of legitimate work closed to him, the blacklisted one would be forced to Tesort to illegitimate means of making a living. Considers Social Problem. “The commission is cognizant of the social problem involved in the finger- printing and character investigation of applicants, and has adopted a policy of discretion in judging the moral fitness of prespective appointees,” it was de= clared today by Herbert E. Morgan, as- sistant chief of the Recruiting Division. ““The mere fact that an applicant has a police record behind him does not make him ineligible for appointment.” Mr. Morgan continued. “The commis- sion weighs all the evidence against him before making a decision. If the record indicates the applicant is an habitual criminal he is turned down, of course. If, however, he was guilty of offense against society many years go, but has reformed and has become & good citizen, he should be given & chance by the Government. “Of course, the final question of his employment Tests with the various de- partments. If the department does not accept him when he is certified by the commission, there is nothing the com- mission can do about it.” Fingerprints Checked. It is estimated that fingerprints of more than 40,000 appointees will be taken during the current fiscal year. Each set of prints is referred to the division of identification of the Bureau of Investigation, Department of Jus- tice, where a check is made against the nearly 3,000,000 fingerprints of criminals on file there If the appli- cant has a criminal record, the Jus- tice officials send the commission & copy. The fingerprint system has been ef- fective not alone in exposing criminals having ulterior motives in entering the Government service, but in discourage- ing such undesirables from applying for employment. Mr. Morgan told of the experience of an examiner who was taking the application of a man for an important Federal post This man passed all the tests per- fectly. At the close of the examination the applicant was advised of a final re- quirement—the taking of his finger- prints. “Is that absolutely necessary?” he in- quired with surprise. “Oh, yes he was informed. just a’ formality.” “Well,” he replied, taking his hat, “just forget about that application. I've changed my mind.” w1y WASHINGTON PARK DIRECTORS MEET Organize to Purchase Sites for Improvement on Po- tomac. Directors of the George Washington Memorial Parkway Fund were today in session at the Cosmos Club perfecting & permanent organization for the han- dling of the fund appropriated by Con- gress to acquire land along the George Washington Memorial Parkway on the Potomac River. Members of the directorate said the meeting would be a lengthy one. Besides electing a president, the di- rectors will also select a vice president, secretary and treasurer. An executive director, manager and managing direc- tor will aiso be appointed. ‘The directors and elected officers also are expected to work out a policy in regard to buying and acquiring lands in Virginia and Maryland and approve & budget for the first year. The parkway has been designed by the National Park and Planning Com- mission to include the public control of both banks of the river between Mount Vernon and Great Falls on the Virginia side and Fort Washington and Great Falls, on the Maryland side. This does not include the Alexandria and Washington areas, which are re- served for commercial development. In appropriating $7,500,000 for the project, <Congress has already made available $1,000,000 for land purchases and for the disbursement of this money the parkway fund group is being organized. RECALLED FROM BERLIN . Lieut. Col. Muller, U. 8. Clvllv, Assigned to Texas Post. Lieut. Col. Carl H. Muller, United States Cavalry, attached to the torical section of the Army War Col- lege, has been recilled from Berlin, Germany, where he has been engaged in research work for the college, and assigned to duty with the 1st Cevalry Division at Fort Clark, Tex. o His relief from duty at Berlin is ef- fective_ November 4, by which date he